Divine Authority

Divine Authority

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:2

All humanity divides over the Person of Christ.  He is the Great Divide by virtue of His words and deeds.  There is no way for any to avoid the implications of so polarizing a statement as, ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’  Our text today is just as polarizing.  Here Christ declares categorically that He has authority over all of humanity, or ‘all flesh,’ as He puts it.  He goes on to state that God the Father has given Him this authority; that He has it by Divine Right.  This is utterly offensive or utterly reassuring, depending upon our acceptance or rejection of Christ.  If we refuse to accept Christ for Who He claims to be, God Incarnate, then such claims of authority are, at the best, ridiculous, and at the worst despicable.  If we accept Christ for Who He claims to be, and receive the testimony of the cloud of witnesses who have proclaimed the Gospel, then we have reassurance that everything else about His Person and work is true.  If those things are true, then all that He has promised shall infallibly come to pass.  This gives us hope of salvation, membership in the family of God, a place at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and a home in heaven.  All of this hinges upon the identity and authority of Christ.  His claims face us with the ultimate choice:  to accept or reject Him; to believe or disbelieve; to live or to die; to gain heaven, or to endure hell.

High King of Heaven, we rejoice that You rule and reign over all of the affairs,
of all of humanity, for all time and for all of eternity.
We praise You that we may happily submit, to Your authority,
knowing that You will do all things after the counsel of Your Own Will,
for our good and for Your Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning